Aker Wirth Targets Russian Market Expansion



Aker Wirth’s latest roadheader model, the T1.14 shown here, is optimized for coal mining, according to the
company.

Roadheader and tunneling equipment manufacturer Aker Wirth has expanded its presence in the Russian-speaking market by providing local contacts for existing and prospective customers at a facility in Moscow that is jointly shared with its parent company, Aker Solutions. “It is precisely with the Russian-speaking countries where we see a huge market potential, both in mining and in founda-tion,” said Hans Greve, vice president of mining and construction at Aker Wirth.

Aker Wirth builds roadheaders in the 50- to 130-mt weight class, suitable for cutting rock of up to 150 MPa compres-sive strength. The company’s latest prod-uct is the T1.14 roadheader, optimized for coal mining and featuring a compact design and telescopic boom.

Together with Rio Tinto, Aker Wirth also has developed a new and innovative tunnel boring system which it claims will markedly improve safety and efficiency in under-ground mining applications. The tunnel bor-ing system is based on Aker Wirth’s innova-tive MTM (Mobile Tunnel Miner) technology and its years of experience in underground hardrock mining and tunneling.

Additionally, the company offers tech-nologies for all types of shaft construction, including Pile Top drill rigs for supply and ventilation shafts with diameters of up to 4.5 m and depths of up to 300 m, along with L-type rigs for shafts with diameters of up to 8 m and depths of up to 800 m. Both use reverse circulation drilling technology.


As featured in Womp 2012 Vol 08 - www.womp-int.com